Post date: May 10, 2015 11:56:13 AM
Bridestowe missed the chance to remain top of the C(West) after a disappointing performance with the bat against Babbacombe. With rain falling for most of the week, the hosts lost the toss, and were asked to bat first on a wet pitch. Things were difficult for the opening batsmen, as Tom Fogerty and Phil Hatton, usually aggressive from the start, struggled to time anything well enough to pierce the infield. The pressure told as Tom miscued a big shot down the ground and was caught at deep midwicket. Hatton managed one booming boundary over extra cover before he too was on his way, caught expertly in the gully by Broad. James Ewen and Mark Fogerty then dug in for a number of overs, picking up more extras than anything off the bat, as a combination of the conditions and accurate bowling made scoring tough. The pair progressed the score to 49-2 before Mark tried a big shot down the ground, but missed and was bowled. Ewen and Khan batted a few more overs before the former inside edged a Goodwin delivery onto his pad, with the ball ending up hitting the stumps to dismiss him for 11. Dennis was bowled the very next ball by Goodwin (3-18) and BCC were in all sorts of trouble at 51-5. Pat Ewen countered and struck a couple of boundaries before he too was bowled, and Dan Fogerty was caught in the gully off Kingdon soon after. Things went from bad to worse after a calamitous run out saw captain Butler stranded without facing a ball. Spinner Bates bought the final two wickets with his slow left armers, first Lavis caught on the boundary, and then another good catch was taken in the gully to remove Khan for 13 and finish the innings. The hosts had managed just 84, albeit on a very difficult wicket, but some heroic bowling would be needed to challenge the strong Babbacombe batting line up.
Going straight back out before tea, Daniel and Tom Fogerty started as they had the previous week, and caused the opening batsmen problems almost every ball. After two maiden overs to start, Dan bowled Babbacombe's opening bat for 0, with one which jagged back in off a length. Number 3 Kingdon started in typically imperious fashion, working a two and then pulling one off the back foot to the boundary . Dan replied by yorking the other opener in the next over to get BCC back into the match. At 11-2 after 6 overs, tea was taken with a sense that the game was far from over. After the tea break, it was clear that the pitch had dried up appreciably, and the batsmen were able to play with more confidence off the front foot. This was particularly evident when Broad (27) struck Tom for two straight sixes in an over. Dan Fogerty had a massive lbw appeal turned down with Kindgon on the back foot, but he was able to counter with another pull for 4. Khan and Lavis then came on to try to turn the tide for the home side. Khan had a huge lbw appeal turned down first ball, but was able to strike almost straight away as a full toss was smashed by Kingdon to captain Butler at mid-on who took a sharp catch. Lavis then removed Broad thanks to a sharp catch at gully by Ewen to leave Babbacombe needing 30 runs with 6 wickets left. The new batsmen looked nervous early on, but grew in confidence and were able to steer their side to a relatively comfortable victory. It was clear that another 30 runs would have made a world of difference, which made the 16 un-batted overs all the more frustrating.
Next up for the 1XI, who should be boosted by the return of a number of key players, is a trip to Yelverton. The 2XI meanwhile aim to maintain their table-topping form as they welcome Thorverton to the Millaton Ground.
Picture by James Bird